Betrayal on Christmas Eve

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1.

On Christmas Eve, I found a pair of lace panties in the pocket of Calebs Armani suit. They werent mine.

I could hear him in the living room, on the phone, bragging to his buddies.

Sloanes body my god, its unreal. Those curves could kill a man.

How do I describe it? Shes like a marble statue carved by Michelangelo himself, glowing under the California sun. Smooth, tight, with the perfect amount of bounce

But what did he tell me just moments before?

Babe, it was from a game of Truth or Dare. Marcus lost and stuffed them in my pocket. I couldnt just make a scene in front of everyone, could I?

I stood there, clutching my phone, my knuckles white.

But I didnt cry. I didnt make a scene.

I just hit send, accepting the promotion offer from my company to relocate to London.

I had been hesitating on whether to take the job.

I kept thinking I should stay for Caleb, to take care of our home. The VP at MG Media had approached me three times, and each time I made up an excuse.

Not anymore. Fuck him.

The moment the email sent, Caleb hung up the phone.

He sauntered into the kitchen, wrapping his arms around my waist from behind.

Baby, we havent been intimate in so long. Ive missed you like crazy.

His lips brushed against my earlobe, and the knife in my hand, meant for an apple pie, slipped.

Whats wrong? You seem distracted. Still thinking about that stupid underwear thing?

He said it so casually, like it was a dumb joke, making me feel like I was the one who couldnt take a joke, the one making a big deal out of nothing.

I took a breath, trying to keep my voice steady. Caleb, was it really just a joke?

His body tensed, and his hands tightened around my stomach.

Of course! If you dont believe me, Ill call Marcus right now and have him tell you himself.

His voice was a little too loud, a little too eager to prove his innocence. The slight quiver at the end gave him away.

I didnt ask again. I already knew the answer. I had just been foolishly holding onto a tiny sliver of hopeDhope that he would admit hed fallen for Sloane.

Seeing my silence, he must have sensed something was wrong. He turned, plucked a Godiva chocolate-covered strawberry from the fruit bowl, and leaned in to feed it to me.

It was our little Christmas Eve tradition.

Caleb always said that if we fed each other a strawberry on Christmas Eve, the new year would be full of sweetness.

But this year, it just made me sick. Especially when I saw the faint red lipstick smudge on his neck. My stomach churned, and I wanted to throw up.

Claire! What the hell is your problem?

I already explained the damn underwear! It was a joke between friends, are you ever going to let it go?

Im trying to be nice here, and youre still holding onto it?

Youre a fucking buzzkill!

He grabbed his suit jacket from the sofa and slammed the door on his way out.

I stared at the closed door, my heart feeling like it had just been smashed with a sledgehammer.

This was his old trick every time he wanted to run to Sloane.

My silence robbed him of a legitimate reason to leave, so he had to grasp at any opportunityDeven on Christmas EveDto rush to her side.

I placed the apple slices into the pie crust, opened my laptop, and started drafting the divorce agreement.

After three years of marriage, I never thought it would come to this.

From the college cheerleader and the star quarterback to taking our vows at City Hall, a whole decade had passed.

All those late nights studying in the library, the long walks holding hands through every path in Central Park, all the laughter and tearsDthey were all knives now, stabbing me in the heart.

Just as I finished the draft, my phone lit up.

It was Sloane.

In the photo, Caleb was holding that same strawberry, leaning in intimately to her lips. They were both smiling, their happiness a blinding glare.

Beneath it was a single line of text: The Godiva strawberries Caleb bought are amazing. Want a taste?

2.

A bitter taste rose in my throat.

The memory of Caleb nuzzling my ear just moments before made a wave of nausea wash over me.

Sloane wasnt done. She sent a flood of new photos.

My screen was filled with disgusting images: tangled bodies in bed, a passionate kiss on the Brooklyn Bridge, and a close-up of that very same thong all of it a declaration of her victory.

I turned off my phone and laughed. There was no heartache this time, just a surprising sense of relief.

Taking a deep breath, I tossed the phone aside and started organizing the files for the London project. As the youngest head producer at MG Media, I had given up a high-paying promotion and put my career on hold for Caleb, making our home my entire world.

I used to naively believe that as long as we were happy, nothing else mattered.

Now I understood: my sacrifices were a joke in the face of his betrayal.

Just as I finished packing, the key turned in the lock.

I checked my watch: 12:01 AM.

Caleb was always so punctual.

And he always came bearing a cheap cheesecakeDhis "compensation" after a night with Sloane, or perhaps, a prop for his fake, heartfelt apologies.

I ignored him and continued sorting my documents.

Unexpectedly, Caleb hugged me from behind.

Come on, baby, dont be mad. I was wrong earlier. I shouldnt have yelled at you, shouldnt have left you alone. Its my fault. Hit me, scream at me, just please dont be angry, okay?

His eyes were filled with sincere regret, but he didnt notice the stack of overseas documents on my desk labeled London Branch.

I smiled and gently pushed his hands away. The familiar scent of his cologne mixed with a strange perfume made me fight back a wave of disgust.

Calebs face fell instantly.

Claire, are you serious right now?

Its Christmas Eve, and youre giving me the silent treatment for no reason. You wouldnt even eat the strawberry I offered you, all because of a stupid prank. I go out for some air, and you get even worse? Dont you think youre being unreasonable?

He questioned me angrily, and I almost laughed.

But I kept my voice calm. Im not angry, and I dont care about the underwear. Im just tired and want to rest.

He must have seen the pile of documents and the empty dining table because his brow softened.

Okay, okay, my mistake. I know youre the most understanding person. You wouldnt hold a grudge against me.

Lets go see the fireworks. I bought them just for you, for the rooftop. Cost me a few hundred bucks! Ive been so tight on cash lately I havent even bought cigars.

He rested his head on my shoulder pitifully, saying what a hassle it was to find them, and how Christmas Eve just wasnt complete without fireworks.

I didnt want to go. But I remembered how we watched fireworks from the rooftop every Christmas EveDI figured it was fitting to end it where it began. One last time.

Caleb set up the fireworks.

Three small boxes, looking pathetic on the vast, empty rooftop.

He used to drive all over the city to the best firework shops, carefully selecting dozens of combinations just to give me a spectacular show.

Back then, wed wave sparklers on this very rooftop, making New Years wishes under the brilliant explosions.

But ever since Sloane joined his company as a fresh-faced intern, everything had changed.

3.

I watched the fireworks, which fizzled out in just two minutes, and sniffled.

Blue. Thats nice.

Caleb didnt say anything. When I turned, I saw he was taking pictures with his phone.

I thought he was capturing the moment, just like he used to every yearDuntil a text from Sloane came through, and I understood: these fireworks were never for me.

Pretty, right? Caleb bought me a ton of them. We set them off by the Hudson River, my neck is sore from watching. He said it would be a waste not to use the rest, so he saved these few for you!

The words on the screen were like ice, piercing my heart.

I didnt expose him. I just calmly put my phone back in my pocket.

Later that night, Caleb mumbled my name twice in his sleep.

When I didnt respond, he snuck into the bathroom with his phone.

He forgot that only a single wall separates the bathroom from our bedroom. I could hear him flirting with Sloane.

Cant wait just two hours after we part? Didnt get enough strawberries tonight? Ill buy you better ones later.

Stop, youre so loud. Arent you afraid your wife will hear?

Dont forget youre still a married man. If she finds out, you could lose everything!

Caleb let out a wicked laugh, his voice growing bolder.

So what if she hears? Shes no fun in bed, sleeps like a log. I couldnt wake her if I tried. Not like you. Just hearing you scream my name is enough to drive me wild.

A chill ran through my body, but I could still hear the inappropriate sounds coming from the bathroom.

The room felt like it had dropped twenty degrees. I buried myself under the covers.

A tear slid down my cheek. I tapped my head, cursing myself for being so weak. I didnt want to cry, but the tears wouldnt listen.

In the early morning, the bathroom door creaked open.

Caleb tiptoed in, completely oblivious to my flushed face and raging fever.

Seeing me bundled up, he frowned.

Still not awake? Its eight in the morning. Youre not even going to make Christmas breakfast?

He adjusted his tie, his voice sharp with impatience.

When I didnt move, he seemed to notice something was off and reached out to touch my foreheadDbut then his phone rang.

I opened my eyes and saw Caleb staring at the screen.

Then, he turned and left like the wind.

Gone in an instant.

The fever left my whole body aching.

I called in sick to work. Since I was scheduled to fly to London in two days, the company was concerned my health would affect the trip and sent a doctor to my home.

I took my medicine and was put on an IV drip. Before I knew it, it was past two in the afternoon.

Caleb still wasnt back.

I picked up my phone. Sloane had sent me over a hundred one-minute voice messages, each followed by a taunting emoji.

I couldnt be bothered to listen or reply.

But I replied anyway.

I typed: If Caleb loves you so much, why wont he divorce me? Why is he still with me? Dont you think youre the one whos not needed here?

I added a thumbs-up emoji for good measure.

Sloane lost it.

She didnt even have time to argue, just sent back a confident reply: Caleb will definitely divorce you.

I smiled and turned off my phone. Thats exactly what I wanted.

The fever left me weak, but I pushed myself to finish packing my bags.

Then, I pulled out the prenuptial agreement Caleb and I had signed.

4.

It was funny, really. Caleb was the one who insisted we sign it before the wedding.

He said it was to prove his love, that he would re-sign it every year as a renewed promise.

He was the one making the promise, and I was the judge.

He wanted me to witness every year that if he was ever even slightly unkind to me, he would never forgive himself.

Looking at it now, it felt like a childish charade.

By the time I had everything packed, it was eight in the evening.

When Caleb walked in, I was picking at a takeout salad.

I didnt look up, so when he exploded, the fork hanging in mid-air trembled.

Claire, what the hell is your problem!

I know you dont like Sloane, but you didnt have to post our private videos online just to get back at her!

He swiped the salad container off the table, sending it crashing to the floor. Shards of plastic flew everywhere. I couldnt move fast enough, and a piece cut my shin.

Blood trickled down my leg, but Caleb didnt even flinch.

I looked up at him, my voice chillingly calm. I didnt do it.

But it was like he couldnt hear me. He grabbed the water glass beside me and smashed it on the floor.

What do you take me for! Do you have any idea my company is in the middle of a critical project? Because of you, everything is ruined!

You say you didnt do it, then how do you explain the video? Youre the head producer at MG Media, editing a video is easier for you than squashing an ant!

Claire, what did I ever do to you that made you do this to me?

Didnt I tell you the underwear was just a joke between friends? How long are you going to hold onto it? Sloane is so young, and now shes being crucified online because of your revenge. Do you have any empathy? Any basic decency?!

As if that wasnt enough, he pulled out his phone.

The screen showed him and Sloane, tangled together, with blurry censors over the intimate parts.

I let out a bitter laugh. Not only would I never do something like this, but if I did, the editing wouldnt be this sloppy.

I took a deep breath, ignoring the stinging pain in my leg as I stood up. I looked Caleb straight in the eye and said, word by word:

Caleb, Ill say it one more time: I didnt do it. Youd rather believe some anonymous evidence than the woman whos been with you for ten years. Its clear I mean nothing to you anymore.

Caleb froze for a second, seemingly caught off guard by my calm rebuttal. But his anger quickly returned.

Playing innocent now? The editing style, the cuts in that videoDothers might not know, but I do! Its exactly your signature style!

I just smiled bitterly. Ten years together, three years of marriage, had become a complete joke.

I didnt want to fight. I didnt want to argue about him and Sloane anymore. I knew if I did, it would just be another chain holding me here.

I just wanted a clean break. I wanted him to sign the papers so we could go our separate ways.

I slowly bent down, while Caleb was still fuming, and placed the divorce agreement I had prepared in front of him.

He was stunned, as if he never expected it to come to this.

Claire, what is this? You want to divorce me?